Improve home safety for elderly

An elderly New Zealand man was badly burnt after he became trapped in his armchair for more than 12 hours next to a heater in his home last week. Stories like this are becoming common among seniors who opt to live in the comfort of their home rather than move to aged care facilities.

It prompts warnings of the importance of improvements to home safety for the elderly.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Northern Territory chief executive officer, Robyn Lesley told DPSeNews home safety was an “important issue”.

“To be frank the most important aspect to consider is to make sure the elderly living in their own homes or in housing commissioned properties should not be isolated,” Ms Lesley said.

“One thing we need to encourage is for seniors not to isolate themselves and be in constant touch with relatives or networks,” she said.

Ms Lesley said it was important for seniors to “reach out and make sure they have all the information before making hasty decisions”.

Recent statistics show about 78% of people would prefer to die at home.

While Ms Lesley said for most elderly people it would be “ideal” to live and stay at home, “but it is not always possible”.

“We need to look at it from a health point of view. It (living at home) may not be appropriate for people where they may need to be taken outside of the home and into a special environment, for example, people with dementia,” she said.

Financial implications may also be placed on the elderly should they decide to receive care at home.

“Staying at home is probably not for everybody,” Ms Lesley said.

The maintenance of gardens, preparing meals, making changes to the home such as the use of safety hand rails are other factors elderly people and relatives may need to consider.

Suggestions to improve safety in the home:

• Clear floors of clutter – the majority of falls come from having a messy house.
• Ensure rooms are well illuminated to enable you to see that the floors are clear.
• Safety railings – grab bars and safety railings can be installed all around the house. Be sure to fix them to the bathtub and next to the toilet. Bed railings can also help keep your loved ones from falling out of bed at night.
• Non-slip mats – place non-slip mats underneath rugs and be sure to use them in the bathtub and on stairs.
• These home safety tips are important guidelines for how to organise your bathroom if you are taking care of elderly parents. Replacing bathroom towel racks with grab bars can help to prevent falls in the elderly.
• Installing a handheld shower will help to maintain independence. Providing safe care for the elderly person in your home might even require complete removal of the bathroom door.
• Remove all bathroom towel racks as many are not strong enough to hold up elderly people. If you are taking care of elderly parents with mobility challenges you may have noticed the natural instinct to grab onto furniture or any surface at about waist height.
• Install a raised toilet seat or replace the existing toilet with one of the newer higher seat heights.
• Make sure the bathroom door opens outward as you will be able to open the door and enter the room if your elderly relative falls.

Share your ideas on ways to improve home safety for the elderly. Tell us your suggestions in the comment box below.